From Your Anti-Valentine
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

From Your Anti-Valentine

To me, Valentine's Day is a big joke.

19
From Your Anti-Valentine
Above The Law

I used to love Valentine’s Day. My mother always gave me Hershey Kisses in a heart container and a bunch of real kisses. I loved picking out the cards I’d give all my friends in school and I loved receiving cards, candy, and some sort of love from everyone in return. As I grew older the pressure of having a true valentine of the opposite gender became serious from others my age. Everyone talking about whom his or her Valentine was, even at a young age. I had many Valentine’s Days where I was single. I had Valentine’s whom I was never serious about and was more of just a fling around the time. And I’ve gone through Valentines Day in a serious relationship feeling in love. I never once felt so happy during Valentine’s Day as I did as a child waking up to my mom’s chocolates. So what happened?

I learned the truth behind Valentine’s Day. In short, it all started in Rome, a “Wolf Festival”, and a drunken festival that lasted a couple days. Goats are sacrificed, a feast happens, and women get abused and sexualized. There are also stories of Priest Valentine in Rome who illegally, he was killed for it on the 14th and wrote a letter to his lover signed “From your Valentine”. Which I guess could be a cuter version. But still Valentine’s day is not a historically wonderful, mushy, romantic day, but instead bloodshed, drunken, religious, and sexist rituals.

I saw that Valentine’s Day was secretly a huge competition. Who had the best significant other, who had the most gifts, who got the most romantic stuff. Even when we were children and didn’t realize it some kids had more cards than others, more stickers than others, bigger lollipops than others. Then who was single and who was not or who’s boyfriend or girlfriend did the most romantic thing for them. Some people don’t even see it as a day of love but a day of gifts and expensive foods.

Which leads me to all the money behind Valentine’s Day. A part of the competition deals with how much money you have. The more money the more likely you are to win because everything becomes so much more expensive. Send flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, or a card for an arm and a leg. I honestly feel like the holiday was just made for businesses to make more money and it is all a sham. Did you know the total estimated amount of money spent by Americans in 2016 was 19.7 billion dollars? To me that’s 19.7 billion dollars that basically goes down the drain because no one appreciates the thought behind it, because it’s a holiday it’s expected.

Which brings me to my final point; you should show someone you love him or her 365 days a year not just one. If you love them let your actions and words speak out. And if you buy flowers, chocolates, a fancy dinner, or any other romantic gift or gesture, for your significant other on a random day, I promise you it will mean more or be appreciated more because they know you were thinking of them for more than just a day society created that told you, you had to do those things.

Now I’m not telling you to skip the holiday or to protest it. It’s your choice and this is just my opinion. But don’t go questioning me asking me why “I hate the day of love?” or “why do you not like the holiday, but still dress up and give out Hershey Kisses, isn’t that hypocritical?”. Maybe it is hypocritical of me, but I give out chocolates because that is my favorite memory of the day for my entire life. Because I have hope that the holiday will one day be more than just competition and money and actually about romance and love. Because I want to one day show my children true love from their mother and give them a smile on their face or a good memory of the day before society corrupts it for them like my mother did for me. I celebrate because I do want to show those I love that I care for them, just maybe not in the traditional way. So Happy Valentine’s Day from the anti-valentine, may you receive and share love everyday of the year because that’s what this world truly needs.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

48222
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

30623
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

954549
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

175307
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments